PANI Newsletter Volume 01. No. 4 January 2024

PANI Newsletter Volume 01. No. 4, January 2024

PANI Newsletter Volume 01. No. 4, January 2024

CHIEF FUNCTIONARY’S CORNER

Dear Readers,

Greetings from PANI!

As we step into new year 2024, it is time to celebrate the achievements of the past year, reflect on the lessons learned, and look forward to the new opportunities and challenges that await us. With this first issue of SPANDAN in the new year, we bring to you PANI’s insights from the field, along with achievements and activities during the last quarter of 2023.
Rapid advancement in technology is revolutionizing the agricultural sector in India. However, this sector continues to face several challenges especially in the areas of productivity and sustainability. Three critical and paramount challenges are – ensuring food and nutrition security, addressing climate change through adaptation and mitigation, and promoting the sustainable utilization of vital resources like water, energy, and land.

Today, sustainable agriculture, a holistic and forward-looking approach, has risen in response to these multifaceted challenges. India’s green revolution brought about a production-centric agricultural approach when food security was a primary concern for India. The approach became a success when India attained self-sufficiency by the 1970’s. However, production-centric agriculture has created a crisis that impacts soil, groundwater, and natural resources. Soil degradation and depletion of soil health has become a problem. Excessive use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides have contributed to soil degradation. We need to develop an ecosystem-centric approach for which transformative changes in India’s agriculture are needed. India needs to improve management of soils, water and crop residues, reduce food waste, augment biodiversity in and around farms, and Non-Pesticide Management (NPM). These sustainable agricultural practices are not only required to be promoted among farmers but also must be scaled-up to reach as many farmer households as possible.

PANI -in its quest to strive for empowering citizens of India to take control of their life situation- has undertaken multiple interventions towards natural resource management and responsible use of resources such as water, soil and energy. In the current issue of SPANDAN, we bring to you glimpses of a few such interventions by PANI across various regions with insightful findings from field.

Hope you find SPANDAN an interesting read!

Regards,
Bharat Bhushan
Chief Functionary
People’s Action for National Integration (PANI)

Recent Significant Developments

The Year 2023 ended with commencement of an exciting project with DCM Shriram Foundation added to our list of eminent funding partners. PANI has started a new Watershed Management project in Hardoi district of Uttar Pradesh, with support from DCM Shriram Foundation.

The primary goal of this project is to revamp identified water bodies, water sources, and wetlands through a series of activities including renovation, rejuvenation, cleaning, desilting, upgrades, and the construction or repair of gully plugs (check dams), as recommended by technical experts. Additionally, the project aims to raise awareness within the community to prevent water wastage across agricultural, domestic, and other usage. It also intends to establish community-based organizations like Water User Groups (WUGs) to facilitate democratic decision-making and ensure the continuity of project activities beyond its lifespan. Moreover, the initiative seeks to augment green cover and plantation in pasture/fallow lands, with the consent of local communities and approval from pertinent authorities. The outreach of the project is across 66 Gram Panchayats in five blocks of Hardoi district.

The project commenced with an induction and training program held at Chachikpur Training Centre, Ambedkar Nagar, U.P. on 27^th – 28^th October, 2023. The induction and training program witnessed the presence of PANI’s Chief Secretary -Mr. Bharat Bhushan Singh, Project Head -Mr. Prakash Bhushan Singh, and resource persons – Dr. Ugrasen, Mr. Ambarish Singh, Mrs. Lakshita Ahuja, Mr. Chanchal Pandey, Mr. Shivanand Shukla, and Mr. Himanshu Singh, who conducted training sessions covering various topics pertinent to the project.

हर डगर हर नगर - Project activities

Multiple initiatives under ISLD Siddharthnagar
PANI, in collaboration with The Hans Foundation, is working with farmers in Dumariaganj and Bhanwapur blocks of Siddharth Nagar district through the Initiative for Sustainable Livelihood Development (ISLD) project. The project team conducted following exciting activities marking the end of a very productive year
- Machine-based cultivation of potatoes: Farmers were trained on cultivation of potatoes through potato planter. Potatoes were sown by machine by 260 farmers of the project area. The crop germinated very well and farmers appreciated the new technique of cultivation. In the nearby region of Balrampur, farmers got 40-50% higher yield of potatoes by adopting machine-based cultivation technique as compared to traditional method.
- Machine-based sowing of wheat: Farmers across 100 Gram Panchayats of Siddharthnagar district were made aware of sowing wheat using Super seeder and Zero Drill. Close to 2500 farmers adopted this technique of machine.
- Farmers’ Day celebrated in Siddharthnagar: On the occasion of the birth anniversary of former Prime Minister Chaudhary Charan Singh, PANI celebrated Farmer’s Day with farmers on the 22nd of December 2023 at Vikas Inter College Sohna Bhanwapur 1,000 and on the 23rd of December 2023 at Gram Panchayat Gauripathak Dumariaganj.
  
  Scientists of Agricultural Science Center Sohna, Dr. Markandey Singh (Agricultural Scientist), Dr. Sarvjit Singh (Seed Department), Dr. Pravesh Kumar (Soil Department), Dr. Praveen Kumar Mishra (Horticulture Department), Technical Assistant from Agriculture Department, Assistant Development Officer Panchayati Raj, and Area Manager of Reliance Foundation and village heads of identified Gram Panchayats participated in the event. The event aimed at promotion of new techniques of cultivation and mechanization disseminated by PANI in the region and many farmers shared their experience on new techniques. Officials from KVK shared new initiatives and plan for farmers’ community and recognized the efforts of all farmers’ households in the growth of Indian economy.
- District Level Workshop with Government Officials: A district level workshop was organized by PANI under ISLD project in Siddharthnagar district on 17th November 2023. The aim of the workshop was to disseminate information to government officials about PANI’s project interventions and progress so far, as well as seeking active co-operation from administrative officials for smooth execution of the project activities. Mr. Gopal Prasad Kushwaha (District Development Officer) was the Chief Guest at the workshop. Other attendees included – Dr. S.K. Mishra scientist KVK, Dr. Gaurav Singh in-charge soil testing, Mr. Vinay Mishra, Program
  
  Manager THF (health wing), Mr. Siddharth Shankar Pandey- District coordinator, Assistant Development Officer- Agriculture (ADO AG), technical assistant agriculture and Gram Pradhan of the project area as well as farmers of the region.
- Establishment of Farmers Resource Centres (FRCs): The project team established two Farmer Resource Centers (FRC) in collaboration with The Hans Foundation in Dumariaganj and Bhanwapur block of Siddharthnagar district.
  
  These centres aim at providing good quality bio-fertilizers, seeds and bio-pesticides to the farmers. Farmer Resource Center in Dumariyaganj was inaugurated on 4th November 2023 and Bhanwapur on 1st December 2023 by Mr. Anoop Kumar, Project Director from PANI and the Gram Pradhan of the area.
“Empowering Communities for Food Security and Nutrition”: PANI’s Recent Initiatives under Advancing Food Security and Nutrition (AFSN) project in Manikpur Block, Chitrakoot
The AFSN project is being implemented by PANI in collaboration with Oracle CSR in 25-gram panchayats of Manikpur block, Chitrakoot district, Uttar Pradesh. It is a comprehensive initiative designed to address the food security and nutritional needs of the local community. Recent direct support initiatives under the project are:
- Distribution of Sizable Crates: A total of 6000 sizable crates were distributed to 1500 marginalized farming household women (four crates each HHs). These crates are designed to assist in the harvesting, transportation, and storage of vegetables.
- Distribution of Containers (Bakhari): Provided 1,500 marginalized households with appropriate containers for the safe and effective storage of grains after harvesting. By doing so, the project seeks to reduce post-harvest losses and ensure that households have a stable food supply throughout the year.
- Seed Distribution: We surveyed and identified farmers from poor and marginalized segment with landholdings up to 20 biswa and who were interested in growing vegetables. We then distributed – a) Vegetable Seed Kits to 3,700 Households to cultivate their vegetables, ensuring sustainable and diverse food source rich in essential nutrients b) Fortified Wheat Seed to 2,000 Households in improving crop yield and enhancing the nutritional content of staple grains, contributing significantly to overall food security.

Promotion of chemical-free farming among progressive farmers through provision of Vermi compost unit:
The Holistic Rural Development Program (HRDP) is being implemented by PANI in 15 villages of Charganwa block in Gorakhpur to improve the living standard of poorest and marginalized communities through the integrated development. Recently, PANI has provided support to 120 progressive farmers for Vermi compost unit to promote them for chemical free farming at their small agriculture land. PANI supported them for construction of Vermi composting pits[10 feet length, 6 feet width and 3 feet depth] and also in shedding of each pit. PANI has also provided input of earthworm and facilitated a session for farmers on technical know-how of vermin composting. Based on training session, the farmers have started to put cow dung and earthworm in the vermi pits and it is estimated that they will be able to produce at least 4 quintal of organic fertilizer from each unit of vermi composting pit in a year. This intervention will cover over 15 acres of land for chemical-free farming.
Construction of community bathroom cum mini Jal Minar in Pratapgarh, U.P
Under Holistic Rural Development Program HRDP) in Pratapgarh district of Uttar Pradesh, PANI is implementing a project with multiple objectives for Socio-economic development of 15 villages of Mandhata block. In the month of September-October 2023, PANI team constructed 15 community bathrooms cum mini Jal Minars co-branded with HRDP in the block. The construction serves two pronged purpose- it resolves the problem of drinking water scarcity as well as provides private and secure space to adolescent girls to take bath and allied chores. Around 25-30 families benefit from each unit, thereby benefiting total of 375 families in Mandhata block.
ASHA Meeting under Core Group Polio Program in Moradabad

Under the Core Group Project Partners(CGPP) Moradabad, a long-term polio eradication program is being conducted by PANI. From 20th-23rd December 2023 a workshop was organized by PANI at Urban Primary Health Centre (UPHC) in Moradabad which was attended by 200 ASHA workers from five development blocks. The objective of the workshop was to review the progress of the project, assess the gaps and drop-out children in the program and how can these gaps be addressed. ASHA workers were also guided on improving the Information, Education and Communication (IEC) in the project with mothers who are part of the program. ASHAs were also trained on UP government’s Healthcare application named “E-Kavach” (Initiative to shape a resilient and prosperous agricultural future – Organizing soil testing camp at Village Level)
In our ongoing commitment to empower local communities, under the “Democratizing Water for Livelihood and Life through Women” project, the team conducted Mobile Van Camps. These camps focused on three key aspects: soil health, entitlement applications, and water management in mango orchards. At the heart of these camps lies a technological marvel—a state-of-the-art soil testing device utilizing Infrared spectroscopy, IoT Technology, and AI/ML capabilities. This advanced device swiftly measures six critical parameters—Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Potassium, Organic Carbon, Cation Exchange Capacity (CEC), and Clay Contents—providing accurate results within a remarkable 90 seconds. This real-time data empowers farmers to make informed decisions for optimized agricultural practices.
Our dedicated team, consisting of an Agri-expert with an assistant, a cluster coordinator, and a Local Resource Center (LRC) Facilitator, played a pivotal role during these camps. Their multifaceted approach included orienting farmers about the soil testing process, providing insights into water management for mango orchards, and educating them on entitlement schemes and the application process.
Through these efforts, we successfully facilitated 650 entitlement applications and conducted soil testing for a total of 2040 soil samples across 30 gram Panchayats in two phases.
This holistic approach underscores our commitment to empowering women and local communities, fostering sustainable practices in agriculture, and ensuring equitable access to entitlements.
HDFC-CSR Team visit to HRDP Ayodhya
PANI team facilitated the visit for Ms. Deepali Saini (Relationship Manager at HDFC) and Ms. Divya Singh (Project Manager at HDFC) to HRDP Ayodhya in Amaniganj block locally known as Khandasa. The visit aimed at review the project progress and conducting have one-on-one discussions with the beneficiaries. The visit was facilitated from 14th-15th September 2023 and led by Mr. Jagdish Giri (Program head at PANI) and Mr. Ravi Shankar (Project Manager in HRDP Ayodhya). The visit included following activities:
- Meeting with Village development committee-VDC of two villages asking them about their understanding of the program and related intervention/support through the HDFC CSR and PANI.
- Other activities such as, visit to Farmer Field School-FFS, Group Irrigation- GI unit site, all five components of SMART school, Anganwadi center, solar community Jal Minar, poultry units, three-tier livelihood structure, and vending cart.
- Meeting with community members to seek their feedback for the support provided through the project and tried to assess if this intervention has impacted their livelihood, the changes/up-gradation in the lives of women, and education of the children.
Training program on Menstrual Hygiene Management for Girls and women at Fatehpur
As part of the Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) project, a Menstrual Hygiene Management (MHM) training program of 15 days was organized at Bhitaura Block in Fatehpur district. This training program is divided into three batches for each panchayat across total 10 gram panchayats of Bhitaura block (total 30 sessions). Over 1,500 girls were trained during these training sessions across 10 GPs. The training aimed to raise awareness about menstrual hygiene and educate women and girls on proper practices, thus promoting their overall health and well-being.
During the interactive training program, participants were provided with comprehensive information on menstrual hygiene and the importance of maintaining cleanliness during menstruation. They were educated about proper sanitation practices, appropriate menstrual product usage, and the significance of personal hygiene. Special attention was given to addressing the issue of menstrual waste management. The participants were educated about the environmental impact of improper disposal of menstrual waste and were encouraged to adopt sustainable practices, such as the use of eco-friendly sanitary pads and proper disposal methods.The MHM training program at Bhitaura Block, Fatehpur, was a significant step towards addressing the challenges faced by women and girls in managing their menstrual hygiene.
Government entitlements awareness camp and Digital Literacy Training session at Hathras
- Entitlements awareness camps: PANI is conducting a project named “Investing in Women to Strengthen Supply Chain”, in 17 development blocks of seven districts of Western Uttar Pradesh – Agra, Bulandshahar, Hathras, Mathura, Etah and Aligarh, Firozabad. Under this project, an awareness camp on Government social and economic security schemes was organized in Maihki Khurd village of Jalesar block in Etah district on 18’th December, 2023. We identified many participants who were eligible for many schemes and explained them about the benefits of those schemes to apply. Following on to this camp, we supported many citizens with documents correction for applying to different schemes and link them to schemes as per eligibility. So far in the project, PANI has already linked over 300 farmers to various entitlements.
- Digital literacy Training for women: Under the same project, we also conducted a digital literacy training session for women farmers and agri-labourers at Bairamgarhi and Tond blocks of Hathras on 22nd-23rd December 2023. We oriented them on key points of using smart phone for mobile/ Internet banking and also trained them on key aspects of financial literacy.
Cultural Program with moral under EAG Program
Under the Teenage Empowerment Programme, on the occasion of Human Rights Day, various cultural programs were organized in Tarun development block of Ayodhya district, Pahari development block of Chitrakoot district and Khuniyaon development block of Siddharthnagar district on 10th December 2023. In these programs, the girls were taught about their rights and protection of their rights through role play, song, dance, speech, quiz and exhibition. A total of 2,810 adolescent girls and 260 parents participated in these programs.
System of Rice Intensification (SRI) technique for growing paddy promoted in Siddharthnagar
Under PANI’s project “Building Climate Change Resilience through Entitlement (BCCRE)”, PANI is trying to build resilience of farmers against adverse effects of climate change. PANI is promoting climate-friendly agricultural techniques and providing government entitlements support. In past few months, the project team has trained farmers on SRI technique. It involves single seedling transplantation of young seedlings with wider spacing instead of transplanting multiple and mature seedlings in conventional method. This method has the potential to improve the productivity of land, capital, water and labour simultaneously.

With the adoption of SRI yields can be improved up to 6-8 tonnes per hectare with improved management, hybrid varieties which can lead to 20-40% increase in yield compared to conventional methods. However,actual yield increase depends on how well farmers practice it. These practices lead to enhance yields and considerable savings in terms of seeds, water etc. One of the farmers Abhimanyu Tripal, from Khesraha block, planted his paddy crop using system of rice intensification technique and noticed 22% increase in yield as compared to traditional methods.
District-level Workshop under Initiative for Sustainable Agriculture (ISA), Chitrakoot
ISA project is being implemented by PANI in 50 villages of total 46-gram panchayats of block Karwi, Pahadi and Manikpur in district Chitrakoot, Uttar Pradesh. The project aims at increasing farmers’ income and reducing cost of cultivation. Under the project, PANI team builds farmers’ capacity on sustainable agriculture techniques through Farmers’ Field Schools (FFS), promote natural farming, agricultural mechanization, etc. Under this project, on 15th December 2023, a one-day District Workshop was organized by PANI in Chitrakoot. Aim of the workshop was to train farmers on major crops of Rabi season. The Chitrakoot workshop was conducted under supervision of Mr. Raj Kumar, Deputy Director, Chitrakoot district and was attended by 54 participants.

People's Action for National Integration - PANI